St. Landry democrat., 1887-03-19

lsueu Allu; d1u bWO hOur2 RGer, when he
left them, as they fondly but enormously
believed, on his way to his bed, he
laughed aloud to himself on che deserted
pavements of that anything but aristo-
cratic nelghborhood, as he called to mind
how he had ndulgsd in tea and toast at
that hour, and enjoyed them too. What
eyes that girl had! What mouth! How
gentle, how sweet how lovabIe! Yet
there was fire about her too, that sug-
gested many things, and made the pulses
beat, and added ten thousand charms to
those she already possessed. Well! He
mad lost his dinner, certainly, gazing at
those beaux yeux, but there was al
ways ones club, the gods be praised, and
supper that would be undeniable
The acquaintance, thus opened had
been followed up with an ardor that Der
haps aston!shed no one 50 much rs the
yourvs man himself He soon-astonish-
lngly soon, as it appeared to Mrs Roche
mastered the hours Of Madness DAYS.
knew when she was off duty and when
on. Never put in an appearance on the
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and SATURDAYS on
which she gave her German lessons to
Millicent Grey, Mrs. Brands niece: but
invariably dropped in on the afternoons
Sunday his visits were uncertain, but he
came even ON that day more than lie
stayed away.
Mrs. Roche was troubled little about
hi ia at first, but grew accustomed to him
later on, and admiring him intensely as
she Gid regarding him, indeed, as q
breath from that old world in which she
once had moved. but which had proved
fJ,l
went down upon her life, was openly
glad and gratif1ed when one day her
daughter came to her and told her how
MIR. Annerley had asked her to marry
aim, and how she had given him Yes
tOr his answer.
The girl had not seemed either elated
or, indeed, moved in any way when tell
ing her story, but had sighed rather, and
been little petluant and impatient-a
most strange thing for her-during the
remainder of the evening.
Paul Annerley had followed up his
proposal by II graceful word or two to the
girls mother that had more than pre-
possessed her in his favor, and the court
ship had run ever since very smoothly,
all things considered-the man beng
passionately in love, the maiden cool, il
in manner as in face.
From the first Mr.. AnnerIey had been
extremely open about himself and his
prospects. He would talk continually
of "our Office" and WAS always positively
eager to enter into any question that re-
lated TO his status in life, his business"
as he called it, or his income.
s'It is neither big nor small now,' he
would say, with his charming smile, that
showed all his beautiful teeth, and lit up
his handsome eyes. But il will inl-
prove. have many irons il the fire,
and one sure thing. should all else fail
No, l never tempt Providence too far
I despise the man who puts bis all upon
he die. / would have reserve fund
somewhere, however small it might be.
Not that | should speak despairingly
another brilliant smile
''of the little can really call my own.
1t is sufficient to give bread and butter
at least to not only one, but two-per-
haps, indeed three, should the desires be
modest
Here the handsome eyes fall mean
ingiy upon pretty Miss Roche bending
over her knitting, and then pass on tn
Mrs. Roche with al even more meaning
expression in them, that the good lady
would catch and dwell on afterward
with maternal delight.
All! if her Nadine could but be placed
beyond the fear OF poverty-beyond the
hateful drndgery of teaching II her
daily bread might be earned for her, in
stead of the dear feet being press every
day into the toilsone path of labor!
Yes; certainly Paul was very open, very
explanatory about his prospects; though,
perhaps, after ali, the explanations did
not amount to much He had an office
= somewhere. An extraordinary press
of Observation-Disclosures He was ut
terly destitute of relationships father
and mother having died when he was
'tuuite little fellow, y and he was an
only child His sisters. his cousins and
his aunts had no resting place upon the
face Of the earth-he was, as he would
remark often in his deep pathetic tones,
"alone in the world" He had friends,
Of course Oh, yesi Every man had
friends somewhere; but he found friend
ship a cold affair when all was told, anu
in fact he, was @ rather shy fellow about
making acouaintances. He had never
been SO happy rs since his fortunate
meeting with Miss Roche, which had en-
abled him to gain an entree into house
where, etc, etc. Perhaps this was true.
Of his love for Nadine, indeed, there
could be no doubt at all. His eyes seemed
never at rest except when following the
girls movements. and drinking In each
glance of the exquisite face
When away from her he would laugh
aloud to himself at times at the vague,
wild, but unconquerable longing, that
never left him, to go to her, to see her,
to touch her hand, to hear her voice
again His love was passionate one-an
idolatryl He recognized il as such. and,
whilst marveling at this strange feeling
that had taken such entire possession OF
him, gloried in it, and clung to it with
all his might.
CHAPTER Ill.
sI am tired today says Millicent,